Musical instrument



May 14, '1929. F. TURNER 1,713,012

MUS ICAL I NSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 1l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l f Wouden 1 May 14, 1929. F. TURNER .1,713,012

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. l1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50e/nto@ j@ @2M Patented May 14, 1929.

lFRANK' TURNER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

. Application tiled October 11, 1927. Serial No. 225,432.

This invention relates to musical instruments and especially to instruments of t-he ivindtype wherein the variationsin tone or pitch are produced according to the variations in length of the air column or tube.

Among theobjects of the invention is to provide a musical instrument with improved means whereby the effective length of the tube may be varied to any desireddegree.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a musical instrument o fvthe type set forth wherein the pitch can be varied continuously, either upor down, so that the 4tones produced can be slurred or played without a break betweenthem,

A .still further object fof the invention is to provide atone producing instrument which depends for itsyariations in pitch upon the variations inflengt-h of the tube, following the general principle that the longer the tube the lower thetone or pitclnand one wherein the tube is a sectional .object composed of a series or succession of telescopically mounted sections and with external means connectedto the several sections for h olding them respectively in a certain predetermined relation to one another'. Y

lV ith the .foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists. in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restrictedto the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my improvement exemplified in some respects in the form of a clarinet, one havin a mouthpiece with a reed for initiating the tones.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing thc shortened or collapsed form of the instrument.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the mouthpiece removed.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing variations informs of joint structures between the telescopic tube sections and levers.

Fig. G is a vertical longitudinal section on thc line 6-G of Fig. 1.

Fig. T. is an enlarged central sectional view of a slight modificationand illustrating that form of the invention in which'the mouthpiece is a fixture and has levers connected directlytherewith. l.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one Oftheintermediatesections offth'e tube st sructur'e.l .A Fig. 9-is'a detail View of the first, section of an instrument embodying theimprovements but relating to the saxophonetype. 1 Fig. 10 is a modification ofmyinvention showing its application tothatfform of sound producing device in which'the tones are initiated at the larger end asin a whistle or flute.

Fig. 11 is a iiurthervmodificat-ion showing variation in form of the lever mechanism.

F igs, 12 and'13 are still further4 variations in leverdevices.

Referring now more'specificall to the drawings I show a musical orsoun producing instrument comprising as uccession'of telescopically mOuntedsectmns A, B, and C, sectionv A being the smallestin diameterand adapted as a mouthpiece section, the section C being the largest in caliber and carrying any suitable size or design of bellformation 10, and the intermediatese'ctions B of any. suitable or `desired number, one or more, are substantially cylindrical in forml subject'to such variationsas may be noted hereinafter. Each tube section bears at or adjacent to one end a collar as indicated at 11 for several reasons, among which may be noted, first, the matter of re-enforcement or strengthening thereof, taking tube sections are of relatively thin metal, and secondly, to constitute means for the attachment of regulating devices. The tubing in all the sections may be perfectly cylindrical on the inside or in certain cases it mav be tapered. in Fig. 7 the mouthpiece end ofthe bore is shown slightly tapered at 12 toward `the mouthpiece, and in Fig. 8, I show an internal flare or taper of the bore toward the next larger section as at 13. This feature is optional and is not shown on Fig. 6. It is preferred that the end of any section which tele-l scopes .within the next section shall be very slightly larger in outside diameter as at 14 than the main portion of the section so as to insure suitable airtightness of fit between the two relatively movable sections without excessive friction. .The difference in diameter between the enlargement 14 and therest of the tube is much exaggerated in the drawinto consideration that theing and should preferably be so small te be hardly noticeable and for this reason is not shown 'n any other drawings Zhen the instrument is closed as in Fig. 2" th "ends ofthe sections remote from the mouthpiece, may be even, or each section may extendslightly beyond the adjacent end of the next smaller section as shown in dotted lines. f

As above premised the sounds or tones may be initiated by any form'of mouthpiece"`or blow opening andmay blown by the mouth nceted 'direetlytoI the first tube A. as in Fig.A

7, 'or mayhlje securedl detachablyl to reduc'edneek portin'jl in Figs 6 and S. Where the mouthpiece detachable a` cnllar with 1respect tol While anysection bf the tube is 'adapted fior free slidab'le'or telescopic movement 'ith respect to tlie'n'e. tfla'rger section, I provide means for causingalljtliesections to more ronefanotheij'according to :i predetermined' r'ule lor'principle,"and at' the s'ame'tir'ne the mechanical connections bei` tween the several sections are calculated lo stabilizeand supportthe several sections, pre venting themnormally"fronr cramping or sagging. It isjcontemplated, furthermore, that'tlie connections between the Several sections shall be such that the largest or znost remote sections of long instruments may he controlled or manipulatednasfa result ot' the collapsing or manipulation of other sections. To this end I provide a 'system or assemblage of lever devices which in most of the instances partake of the nature of lazy tongs suitably pivoted to one another and to the several tubular sections. In Figs.v 1, 2, and G, there lever members consist of first and last shorter links 17 and'f'intermodiate longer links le'.. The'sliortlinks are pivoted directly to the f iist and last collars 11 ofthe tubular se@ ti'diisat their inner ends, while the longer links 18 are pivoted at their mid points to the collar 11 of the intermediate sections B. As is usual in lazy tongs connections, the outer ends of all the'links are articulated to ont` another at 19. In some instances I provide that' the'links lfrom the tubular sections outward shall all be of 'the same length as in Figs. 1, Q2, and 6, but in other instances I providefor variations of such elements as shown for example, wherein the end the mouthpiece are` In Fig. 7 the in Fig'l, links-17% adjacent to longer than the mid links.

mouthpiece is firmly attached in any desired manner to the tube of smallest diameter, and the levers.1-instead off being -attached to a collar', are" attached directly toV the 'mouthpiece by means of a pivot 19 in the nature of a screw having athreaded inner end screwing into the mouthpiece. The outer portion of-theL-pivot is preferably smooth to provide an easy bearing for the lever links. A. similar' pivot is providedfor each collar 11 for connecting reliably the lever links thereto.A

`'Iltwill be noted that as the tubesections increase in diameter, the collars likewise inc'rease'inldia'meter, but as it is desirable to maintain 'the'line of bearings of the levers in a .ilaneiparallel tothe central axis of the tube of the' instrumentfth'e smaller-collars should provided,- A with projections long enough 'to bringj them' to this parallel line. These projections are shown in Fig. fiat 20 Jiormed uponthe collars, whereas in' Fig. 5 they are shown'at'QOa asf'constituting projections'or lugs fro`m" the lever links. f On Fig. `5 there'is a small projection 20 on the levers on the side opposite the collar.V This 'is Jror the purpose of giving a longer bearing to the'pivot'or scre'w'and thus'tendingto keep it at right angl'estothe levers, As indicated in F ig'. 3 I may provide one o'r morelbraces Qlwhich 'extend around the tulfulai" portion ot thel instrumentV and'eon: neet to opposite end portions of one 1or more of the links 18; lhe brace also :connects with the collar 11 on the opposite side from the main levers. [l Thesebraekets orv bracesse'rveto stiifen the structure and may in the "case of. [engin-- struments be employed as handles for vthe manipulation thereof.: This brace isoptional and can l;e omitted if desired. For ordinary purposes the instrument of the type shown in the first set of figures is played b y the grasping of the mouthpiece :end of the instrument. in one hand, holding itsteadily while with the other hand the operator grasj'is the remote section at or near 'the collar 1l. 'lo play a high note the hand is moved tou-'ard the mouth while to lower the pitch it is moved away from the'mouth. Itis obvious, however, that for long instru1n`ents,'thc nmnipulating hand must grasp the instrument at some intermediate section and for this purpose any of the collars except the one nearest the mouthpiece may be employed or if t' e instrument is fitted with braces 21, one

them may be grasped. rI`he detail of Fig. 9 indicates the first section A2 o't a jointed telescopicinstrument having the characteristics of a' saxophone. That is to say, provided with a considerably greater degree of taper adjacent to the moutlr piece than in the other type'of instrument. The succreaing sections to be used in connertion with this structuremay'be'the same as already described. The smallest tube carryto the mouth ing-'the mouthpiece, inay -be'cylindrical asin Fig. 6,- fr=it mayhave any style ordegree of taperfoni-thef-inside that has been used on any-tubular windinstrument in that part nearest the imouthpiece. I

F ig.- 10 'is-similarto Fig. .1. in the lever ar-: rangement, gbutfthis is an illustration of the adaptation. of the improvement to. an instru-v ment of the whistletype.- A fiute :mayfalso have the mouthpieceor blow opening-atthe large end, but #for tthel-othei `instruments the preferredlocation-ofthe mouthpiece is onthe smaller tube, :though s If Sdo not limit myselftoftliisform ofconstructi'on.l w. i l .l i Y fi-Fi-g.1 l'lis: 'adiagrani indicative of. a 'stll-r furthervariation in jointed lever connections, the 5 levers 1all e extending .downward from z the horizontah .plane :of Athe instrument, whereas in= the.structures previously described, the levers extend both upward ,and downward, it being-understood that the plane. ofthe vlevers in'all caseseis preferablyvertical for the best supporting-purposes',; In Fig. f12 the link connectionsbetweenadjacenttubular sections are vlinked toione another-andv to( the sections sothat the number-'of linksis less than in the forms already explained and which are preferred inn-practice .-fo'r 1 greater stability .and reliability. l

Fig.l1:3 shows a mouthpiece-attached tirmly to the'smallestitube and having the levers 17al attached directly to itf in. a manner similar to Fig. 7.- r: The-levers or links asshoavn at 17a and l81cennecting':thcfmouthpiece tube and the neig-t tube arefaalittle longer-than. the middle. levers hencenthemelative motion between these tnl'zes iis. `sri-eater .than-that betaveen the second and third andthird and fourth tubes. `This variance of lengthotthe levers vcan be located on anyfpartof. the instrument and if desired the relative motion of each pair of adjoining tubes can be different. The levers at the large end of the instrument are also longer than those in the middle of the instrument for the following reasons.: When the tubes are iuilv extended to play the lowest note the in .strumcnt is capable of, the tubes will lap over only a short distance, and the large end tube will have a tendency to sag. By placing the collar to which the levers are attached some distance -farther forward, the levers as shown will tend to hold the large tube in alignment with the others. However, if this lever is attarhediarther forward and of courselengthv cned to permit this, the next lever connecting withl" must also be slichtly lengthened if thc relative motion between the largest and next largest sections is to be as great as, lietween theother sections. 'The'collar 1 1a is ured to stiften and strengthen the ontertube which protects the smaller tubes that tele` scope withinit.

There are various types of levers which may be used in regulating the movenientof r the telescoping tubes.. Forexample thelazy tongs typeas'shown in`eFigs.--1,2, 10,*and 13, and numerous variations; one of` which. shown -in Fig. 11. Y When this type of levers is. used the. movement-ot the:v tubes may be regulated in? fany desired. manner. and. the points-on the levers wherethe colla'rsAa-re attached always remain'in a straightfline, thus helping to keep thetubeslinalignmenta.Ane othertype, ofwhich =Fig. V12 isan example, will regulate the movementzo'f tlie.tubes,.but the points of attachmentfto -the-collars have Iess-tendencyto-:hold :themselves -inf a strai-,fght line andi so .are kept. in -ag straight line by ,the tubes-. th'emselves.. 1 n: '15 CS f. .f Iclaimzw i 1. The herein described musical ,instru-,- ment comprising ia A tube -composed: .of a' plurality of .relatively movable` telescopic sections, means to initiateattoneinoneof said sectionsto be conveyedfand mo'diti'edby passingthroughfthe remaining sections, and extensible connections -betweenthe several telescopic sections tocause lallthe.sections other than the tone producingsection tohave-positive movement in relationbotlrto -that section and to one anothervv according vtea gpredetermined principle..I fy 2. The herein described iseund; producing instrument. .0fa; .tubular type comprising a plurality of telescopic sections, means at one of thesections for. initiating; a. tone therein,l and za senies .o lj7 1leve1 .members'g connected .to one anotherandtoztheseveral sections for causing all, the section sto move,- .with relation to. onel another ;i n a .predetermined manner for varying thelength pt theinstrumen't, the sections, andt parts -j of sections having telescopicengagemcntavith cach other having at all times-a snllnstantially straight common axis while the instrument is being played. A deviceas'set forthgingclaim 2 in which the several sectionsarc provided with lateral extensions. and the lever ,members .are .all mounted on the sameside of theinstrument and pivotally connected to;said extensions.

v4. A musical instrument-asset forth in claim 2 in5which the means for initiating a tone is a mouthpiece attached to the'smallest end and to the lever system., Thej herein described musical instruinentcomprising a series oftubular sections telescopic'ally connectedA to one another and increasing gradually. in diameter from one end of the instrument to the'other, and a series of devices inthe nature of lazy tongs interconnected to one another and togthe several sections for compelling movement ofall the sections relativelyto oneanothei' in the same direction. at thesa-me time and to anapproximately uniformextent.

, 6, Inaimusical instrument ofthe classset forth, t he combination, cfa series. O f tele- .sections lincreasing. .in diamscopic tubular eter relatively from one end Aof theiaStle-f ment f to tl 1e other,. the: several Sections. llaving icol lateralzextensions, and link members articulated -to one another and to the-lateral extensions aforesaid, said l"extensions beingof different lengths'to insure that the effective radii thereof' from-'the'faxis of zthe instrument shall be approximately equal.

a7. Afstructixre-as set'forth in-claimQ in which the pointsof connection between the levers and the tube Sections are all in the same straight line. `f

f-8.- :'A=strueture asset 'forth .in lclaim 2 in which all Y the connections between the llever members lanlthc tube sections are -a-ll fin the Y same line and with thc levers'extending both above and below the instrumenti when '1in Playing lQStion. 2'* r- *9a musical instrument icas set -forth 2 in claim 12in which the leverinembers 'specified are ofthe lazy-tongstypef 1 z v; Y

10.' The herein describedfsound producing instrument'of =aV tubular type comprisingA a plurality of telescopic sections, means at one of the sections for initiating a tone therein, and a series oflever'.- members connected toV one another and to the-seve -al sections for causing all the sections to be extended or retracted simultaneously and to a' predetermined extent, all the lever members being-on one side fot a longitudinal plane passing throughethe axis ott the instrument, anda bracket connected-to one of the levers on oppositelside's of the axis and extending around the tubular portion ofthe instrument. 11.1 'Thehcrcin described musical instrument comprising a series of tubular sections connected telescopically to one another, a series of lever members pivotally attached to the several tubular sections and to one another-to -cause the sections to move relatively to one another simultaneously, and a bracket secured to one of the lever members on one side of the axis of theptubular sections and connected to one of said tubular sections on the oppositeside thereof` 12. In a musical wind instrument, a series ot relatively movable telescopic tube sections adapted to be manually extended and contracted for varying the pitch, a mouth. piece for producing a tone connected to an end section, which section remains relatively stationary, the other tube sections being longitudinally slidable in relation to cach other and to the lmouth piece section, thesections having telescopic relation with one another having acommon axis which remains 1n a substantially stra-ight line while the instrument is being played, and extensible connections between the Several telescopic sections to cause them all to move with relation to one another according to a predetermined principle, each outer section moving simultaneously with relation to the section within.

13. In a musical wind instrument, a series of telescopic tube sections progressively increasing indiameter, a mouth piece connected to a sectionvat'one end of the instrument, and levers pivotally connected toveach other and to the several sections or causing all the sections to .move in relation :to one another according to a predetermined principle, all the sections .exceptthe vsection to vwhich the mouth piece is connected beinglongitudinally movable both witlrrelation to each other and themouth-pi'ece section.

14:.: In a.tubularwind-instrument, .a series otv .telescopic sections successivelyv increasing in diameter 'from one fend-ofthe :instrument tothebther; amouth piece connected to: an en d section and :uplilra-lity of'itube sections longitudinally movable .with -relation to each other; and the mouthpiece section, said movement vbeing f in a -lsubstantiallystraight line,- andfaseries Vof levers pi-votally connected to each other and connected to all the telescopic sections ffor compelling a vmovement of all the sections relatively.- to one anotherA at-the saine time, so that the section in telescopic relation to the :mouth piece sectionfw'ill have the least movement and. the section mostremote lrom the mouth piece Section the greatest amount-otl motion with relation to the mouthpiece section. Y 1

l5. 'ln a musical wind instrument, in combination, a mouth piece for producing a tone, a series ofatleast-three-telescopic tubesectio s successively increasing :in diameter, a series ot` levers pivotally= connected vtofeach other and-to all the telescopic sections forcausing them to move -in relation to one an other in apredetermincd manner, the rclative movement ot the-sections being always the same when the instrument is expanded or contracted to any degree, and the sections and parts of sections having telescopic relation with one another, being incoaxial alignnic-nt.

16. A musical wind instrument of tubular type comprising series ot telescopic sections successively increasingin diameter, a mouth piece connected to the tube section of smaller diameter, which sect-ion romains relatively stationary when the instrument is played, the other telescopic sections being longitudinally slidable in :l'subst-.x-ntially stra ight line both with relation to the mouth piece section and each other, and a series of levers pivotally connected to cach other and to the several telescopic sections for compelling a simultaneous movement of all the movable sections, each outer section movingin the same direction over the section within, so that the section of greatest diameter has the largest amount of movement.

17. A musical instrument as set forth 1n claim 2, in which the levers are pivotally connected to each other l-to form a lazy tongs structure and in which the points of connection between the tube Sectionsand the lazy tongs are so placed on the-lazy tongs that they are always ina straight line inthe plane of the lazy tongs and increase or decrease in distance apart as the lazy tongs is extended or contracted.

1S. In a tubular wind instrument, a series ol telescopic sections successively increasing in diameter, a mouth piece connected to an end section, said end section being relatively stationary, the other sections being movable in a straight line both with relation to each other and the mouth picco section, and a series Of levers pivotally connected to cach other to form a lazy tongs structure, and connected to the several tube sections for compelling a simultaneous movement of all the sections relatively to each other, the extent of movement of a section varying with its distance from the mouth piece section.

19. A musical wind instrument comprising a series of telescopically related tube scctions progressively increasing in diameter, a mouth piece connected with an end section thereof, and a series of levers pivotally connected together to form a lazy tongs structure, said levers being connected with the several telescopic sections to cause all the sections to be extended or retracted simultaneously and to a predetermined extent, the sections having a common axis which always remains in a substantially straight line when the instrument is played.

20. ln a musical instrument, a series of telescopic tube sections successively increasing in diameter, a mouth piece connected to the section of smallest diameter, and a series of le vers pivotally connected together to form a lazy tongs structure and connected to all the telescopic sections for compelling a simultaneous movement of the sections relatively to each other, each outer section sliding over the section Within, the section engaging the relatively stationary mouth piece section having the smallest amount of movement, each section of greater diameter having a larger movement so that the tube section of greatest diameter has the greatest movement.

2l. musical instrument as set forth in claim 20 in which the lazy tongs levers are connected with the telescopic tube sections at the central intersections of the lazy tongs, the lazy tongs including short end links, the end sections of the instrument connecting with the short end links, and the intermediate scctions connecting the central intersections of the long levers of the lazy tongs.

22. A musical wind instrument of the class set forth comprising a series of tube sections in telescopic relation and successively increasing in diameter from one end of the instrument to the other and adapted to be extended or contracted by hand to change the pitch, a series of levers pivotally connected to form a lazy tongs structure and connected to the several tube sections at the central intersections of the lazy tongs levers, the lazy tongs structure comprising short levers at each end ofthe said structure connecting with the tube sections at the end of the instrument, and each intersection of the long levers of thc lazy tongs connecting with an intermediate tube section, the intermediate sections connecting with the lazy tongs at the ends of the tube sections nearest the small end of the instrument.

23. A musical instrument as set forth in claim z2 in which a reed mouth piece is connected to the end tube o" smallest diameter, and a sound amplifying bell with the opposite end tube of largest diameter.

In testimony whereof l atlix my signature.

FRANK T URNER. 

